"Up the Bracket"
Single by The Libertines
from the album Up the Bracket
Released30 September 2002
GenreGarage rock
Length2:38
LabelRough Trade Records
Songwriter(s)Pete Doherty, Carl Barât
Producer(s)Mick Jones
The Libertines singles chronology
"What a Waster"
(2002) 		"Up the Bracket"
(2002) 		"Time for Heroes"
(2003)

"Up the Bracket" is a song by the Libertines, released in September 2002. It is their second overall single and their first from the debut album Up the Bracket.

The song alludes to London street crime, and tells the story of a romantic couple who refuse to become informants for a pair of gangsters, the gangsters might be an allusion to the Kray Twins, since the Kray family lived in 178 Vallance Road; and the danger that this decision creates.The title is a slang term used by comedian Tony Hancock for a punch to the throat; while "two crooked fingers" refers to the V-sign.[1][2][3] "Joseph bloody in the hole" is a reference to Genesis, chapter 37.

In May 2007, NME magazine placed "Up the Bracket" at number 47 in its list of the 50 Greatest Indie Anthems Ever.[4]

Track listing

All songs written by Pete Doherty and Carl Barât.

CD 1

  1. "Up the Bracket" - 2:41
  2. "Boys in the Band" - 3:41
  3. "Skag & Bone Man" - 1:46

CD 2

  1. "Up the Bracket" - 2:41
  2. "The Delaney" - 2:39
  3. "Plan A" - 3:22

7"

  1. "Up the Bracket" - 2:41
  2. "Boys in the Band" - 3:41

Chart performance

Chart (2002) Peak
position[5]
UK Singles Chart 29

References

  1. ^ Wright, Lisa. "The Libertines – Every Track". NME. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  2. ^ Davies, Hugh (21 December 2005). "Stone me! Tony Hancock is Pete Doherty's hero". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  3. ^ Anthony Thornton; Roger Sargent (23 May 2013). The Libertines Bound Together: The Story of Peter Doherty and Carl Barat and how they changed British Music. Little, Brown Book Group. p. 33. ISBN 978-0-7515-5330-7.
  4. ^ "The Greatest Indie Anthems Ever - countdown continues". NME. 1 May 2007. Retrieved 2 May 2007.
  5. ^ "Libertines Up The Bracket @ Top40-Charts.com". top40-charts.com. Retrieved 26 October 2007.
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